Conveyor accessory

ABSTRACT

An accessory for a floor type pallet conveyor system characterized by a pivotal member selectively engaged by a pallet pin and at least one pallet positioning pin to align the pallet into a proper position for movement.

United States Patent Pate et a].

l 54] CONVEYOR ACCESSORY [72] Inventors: Robert F. Pate, Elberfeld; Gilman Tredwell; William S. Mitchell, both of Evansville, all of Ind [73] Assignee: George Koch Sons, Inc., Evansville, Ind. [22] Filed: July 30, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 846,197

[52] U.S.Cl ..l04/l72B [51] Int. Cl l 1 l ..B6lb 7/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..l98/33 R2, 181, 189,202; 214/6 S; 104/172 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,904,978 4/1933 Cone 198/189 3,348,661 10/1967 Brautovich 198/181 [4 1 May 9,1972

2,619,916 12/1952 Rainier.... ..l04/l72 B 2,775,333 12/1956 l-layes..... 198/33 RZ 3,366,221 l/l968 Preisig ..l98/33 RZ Primary Examinen-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant E.\aminer-Douglas D. Watts AtIorney-Warren D. Flackbert [5 7] ABSTRACT An accessory for a floor type pallet conveyor system characterized by a pivotal member selectively engaged by a pallet pin and at least one pallet positioning pin to align the pallet into a proper position for movement.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY SIHYZ 3,661,095

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS BY x ATTORNEY PATENTEDMAY 9 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIE; .7

INVENTORS P197: 7 G14 and Tfle'nwlz L Roasnr F Wan/1M M1 refit BY 2/ ,0 46 4 I 4 ATTORNEY CONVEYOR ACCESSORY As is known, floor type conveyors are in widespread use, serving to receive a series of pallets which carry material under process. A difficulty with such type of conveyor has been that oftentimes the pallet moves or angles out of its desired in-line position, where such is particularly troublesome, by way of example, when the conveyor line passes through a baking or like type processing oven. In other words, a need has arisen for an arrangement which simply and effectively orients a pallet moving along a conveyor line into a proper direction for entry into a processing area.

The preceding objective is provided by the invention, which, briefly, utilizes a pivotal aligning member, normally urged into one position, but movable into a range of positions after engagement by a pallet pin. The pivotal aligning member has an upstanding rib which is engaged by at least one of the known pallet positioning pins. The pallet pin of each pallet moves the aligning member and assures the proper alignment of the pallet, because of the configuration of the aligning member, for subsequent processing of the item being carried.

A better understanding of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly fragmentary, showing the invention in combination with a conventional floor type conveyor;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation showing further details of the invention, comparing with that of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention, showing other details thereof.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is shown in combination with a conventional floor conveyor installation (representatively depicted) comprising a series of pallets 12 each having a pallet pin 12a and pallet positioning pins 12b and 120. Skate rails 14a and 14b carrying skate wheels 14c are disposed proximate the side edges of the pallets l2, alLas conventionally known. Channels 16a and 16b receive wheels 17 which mount, at selective intervals, pusher dogs 19 on a conveyor chain 20, such pusher dogs 19 engaging pallet pins 12a so that the pallets 12 move along the conveyor installation.

The invention comprises an aligner member 25 pivotal at 25a on the skate rail 14a. The aligner member 25 is normally retained in the broken line position of FIG. 1 through a resilient or spring member 27, one end 27a ofwhich is secured to the aligner member 25 and the other end 27b of which is secured to skate rail 14a. The aligner member 25 has an edge 25b which is engaged by each pallet pin 12a.

As should be evident from FIG. 3, the aligner member 25 has a vertical portion 25c which is in engagement with an outer wall of channel 16a when in the broken line position of FIG. 1. A resilient material 29, such as sponge rubber, is secured to channel 16a proximate the vertical portion 25c of the aligner member 25. As further evident from FIG. 3, the aligner member 25 has an upstanding rib 25d which is, as will be discussed, critical to the successful operation of the invention. In any event, the aligner member 25 is movable from the broken line position of FIG. 1 to the solid line position of FIG. 1 when the pallet pin 12a moves from the top to the bottom of such figure.

In use, the pallet pin 12a of each pallet 12 consecutively engages the edge 25b of aligner member 25, and pivots such against the force of spring member 27. The aligner member 25 keeps pivoting until the pivot pin 12a passes to the end of the edge 25b, whereupon the aligning member 25 pivots to its ori inal position.

he importance of the invention, however, is that while the aligner member 25 is pivoting, the positioning pin 12b of the pallet 12 is engaging the upstanding rib 25d of the aligner member 25, causing pivoting action of each pallet 12 and its alignment thereof prior to release of the pallet pin 12a from the aligning member 25. The preceding is true whether the pallet positioning pin 12b is in a lagging or a leading position with respect to the pallet pin 12a.

Thus, the invention affords a simple approach to the alignment of a series of pallets as they pass through production operations. Obviously, the proportioning of the aligning member might be changed, and, accordingly, it should be understood that the above description is to be considered illustrative.

We claim:

1. An accessory for a conveyor including structure along which pallets move, means moving said pallets, said pallets each having a pallet pin and at least one pallet positioning in on the undersurface thereof, comprising an aligning member mounted on said structure and pivotal in a plane beneath said pallets, said aligning member having an edge (adapted to be) engaged by each of said pallet pins to pivot said aligning member, and an upstanding rib on said aligning member (adapted to be) selectively engaged by said at least one pallet positioning pin upon pivoting of said aligning member to effect movement of a pallet from a first position to a second position.

2. The accessory of claim 1 where said structure includes channel members, and where said aligning member has a portion (adapted to engage) selectively engaging the outer surface of one of said channel members.

3. The accessory of claim 1 where resilient means urge said aligning member to a pallet pin engaging position, said resilient means being secured to said structure.

4. The accessory of claim 2 where said portion of said aligning member has a resilient member disposed thereon. 

1. An accessory for a conveyor including structure along which pallets move, means moving said pallets, said pallets each having a pallet pin and at least one pallet positioning pin on the undersurface thereof, comprising an aligning member mounted on said structure and pivotal in a plane beneath said pallets, said aligning member having an edge (adapted to be) engaged by each of said pallet pins to pivot said aligning member, and an upstanding rib on said aligning member (adapted to be) selectively engaged by said at least one pallet positioning pin upon pivoting of said aligning member to effect movement of a pallet from a first position to a second position.
 2. The accessory of claim 1 where said structure includes channel members, and where said aligning member has a portion (adapted to engage) selectively engaging the outer surface of one of said channel members.
 3. The accessory of claim 1 where resilient means urge said aligning member to a pallet pin engaging position, said resilient means being secured to said structure.
 4. The accessory of claim 2 where said portion of said aligning member has a resilient member disposed thereon. 